To Kill A Mockingbird Quotes To Show Courage

Courage is not something that we are born with, it is a skill that takes time to learn and only a few are lucky enough to have it. To Kill a Mockingbird is not only about life in a world full of hate, it is about standing up for anyone’s beliefs being brave enough to do it. In this story, Harper Lee says “Courage is not a man with a gun in his hand. It's knowing you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do” (Lee 112). In To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee illustrates courage through Atticus Finch, Mrs. Dubose, and Arthur Radley.

Atticus is shown as a courageous man because he stood up for his beliefs even though it could possibly ruin his reputation. Defending

an African-American man in that society is considered appalling to the white community, but Atticus felt that he would be making an awful mistake if he did not defend him: ‘“For a number of reasons. The main one is, if I didn’t I couldn’t hold up my head in town, I couldn’t represent this county in the legislature, I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again”’ (Lee 75). Atticus knows that he is likely to lose this case because it is a black man’s word against a white woman’s and, in that time, it is common knowledge to know which person will be at a loss: ‘“The only thing we’ve got is a black man’s word against the Ewells’. The evidence boils down to you did--I didn’t. The jury couldn’t possibly be expected to take Tom Robinson’s word against the Ewells’ ”’ (Lee 88). Atticus literally uses his words to fight for Tom Robinson’s life because he does not want to see such a respectable man go to jail for something that he cannot change: his skin color, even if it means going against the views of the town: “‘And so a quiet, respectable, humble Negro who had the unmitigated temerity to ‘feel sorry’ for a whilte has had to put his word against two white people’s. I need not remind you of their appearance and conduct on stand--you saw them yourselves”’ (Lee 204). Atticus sees something in African Americans that others do not. He does not see them as black, colored, or even African American, but he sees them as regular people just trying to make it in the world like everyone else and that is why he is striving to help Tom: “You know the truth, and the truth is this: some Negroes lie, some Negroes are immoral, some Negro men are not to be trusted around women--black or white. But this is a truth that applies to the human race and to no particular race of men” (Lee 204); which shows just how much Atiticus wants this inequality to be abolished so that everyone can be at peace. Atticus shows true courage because he does something that he feels is right, he stays true to himself, and he sets an example for his children.
Mrs. Dubose’s bravery is shown as she endures the war that is happening within her body. Mrs. Dubose’s goal is to break her worst habit so that she could die content with herself: ‘“Mrs. Dubose was a morphine addict. She said she meant to break herself of it before she died, and that’s what she did”’ (Lee 111). She goes through unbearable agony as the last few months of her life ticked away: “She’s not suffering anymore. She was sick for a long time. Son, didn’t you know what her fits were?” (Lee 110-111). She chooses to suffer rather than the easy way out: ‘“She said she was going to leave this world beholden to nothing and nobody”’ (Lee 111); which shows just how powerful and valient Mrs. Dubose is as a person. Even though she was in so much pain, she fights until the end: ‘“Mrs. Dubose won, all ninety-eight pounds of her”’ (Lee 112); and that shows just how much control and power she has over herself. Mrs. Dubose’s determined personality is one of the qualities of a courageous person because, with bravery, there is always some obstacle that has to be faced.
Arthur Radley shows true bravery by risking his safety and venturing out into the town where he is known as a monster.

It is illustrated in the story about how Arthur hides trinkets in a tree for Jem and Scout, “As we came to the live oaks at the Radley Place, I raised my finger to point for the hundreth time to the knot hole where I had found the chewing gum, trying to make Jem believe I had found it there and found myself pointing at another piece of tinfoil” (Lee 34); which shows that, even though Arthur is confined in his house, he still believes that making a friend is worth the risk of leaving his home. Arthur also displays his courage when he folds Jem’s pants after they get caught in the fence because, after his father pulled out his shotgun, there is no doubt that people’s eyes wandered over there every now and then: “When I went back, they were folded across the fence...like they were expectin’ me” (Lee 58). He even puts a blanket around Scout, jeopardizing his life by being so close to, not only a crowd, but Jem and Scout themselves: ‘“Boo Radley. You were so busy looking at the fire you didn’t know it when he put the blanket around you”’ (Lee 72). He even saves Jem and Scout’s lives by putting the children’s safety before his own and murdering Bob Ewell: ‘“[Bob’s] dead alright. He’s good and dead. He won’t hurt these children again”’ (Lee 267); which shows that Arthur has compassion for the children and will do whatever it takes to make sure that they are guarded. Arthur Radley is a very courageous man because, even though he is seen as someone who is different, he goes out with the fear of someone seeing him so that he can help two

children.
Harper Lee displays bravery through Atticus Finch, Mrs. Dubose, and Arthur Radley in To Kill A Mockingbird. Atticus Finch displays his brave characteristic by doing the most revolting thing anyone could do in Maycomb, defend an African-American man.
Mrs. Dubose is shown as a courageous woman by being in a constant battle with herself to fight her morphine addiction. Arthur Radley is a valiant character in this story because everyone knows him as a beast who is meant to be feared but, in reality, he was a generous man who chanced his safety to protect Jem and Scout. Courage is something that everyone has inside them, but it is especially hard to let it out when there are so many people that discourage it. It is a quality that everyone should have because it only makes us stronger in this world full of hate.